Stated U.S. policy is to ensure that Afghanistan will not again become a base for terrorist attacks against the United States. Following policy reviews in 2009, the Obama Administration asserted that it was pursuing a well-resourced and integrated military-civilian strategy intended to pave the way for a gradual transition to Afghan leadership from July 2011 until the end of 2014. To carry out U.S. policy, a total of 51, 000 additional U.S. forces were authorized by the two 2009 reviews, which brought U.S. troop numbers to a high of about 99, 000, with partner forces adding about 42, 000. The U.S. official view is that security gains achieved by the surge could be at risk from weak Afghan governance and insurgent safe havens in Pakistan, and that Afghanistan will still need direct security assistance after 2014. This book examines Afghanistan’s post-Taliban governance and security, with a focus on U.S. policy and increasing emphasis on the need for a negotiated settlement to the Afghan conflict.
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